Machine for selectively printing and feeding tape



Jan. 5, 1954 JACOBSON 2,664,817

MACHINE FOR SELECTIVELYPRINTING AND FEEDING TAPE Filed 001;. 27, 1949 4 She'ets-Sheet l Inventor E 0/! A. Jacobson Jan. 5, 1954 E. A. JACOBSON 2,664,817

MACHINE FOR SELECTIVELY PRINTING AND FEEDING TAPE Filed Oct. 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In uentor Earl A. Jacobson Mm W zaw Jan. 5, 1954 E, JACOBSON 2,664,817

MACHINE FOR SELECTIVELY PRINTING AND FEEDING TAPE Filed 001;. 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Earl A. Jaca'bsan .i I 52 By Jan 5, 1954 E. A. JACOBSON 2,564,817

MACHINE FOR SELECTIVELY PRIII'I'ING- AND FEEDING TAPE Filed 001:. 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 05 Fig. /0

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 orrics MACHINE FOR SELECTIVELY PRINTING AND FEEDllSTG TAPE Earl A. Jacobson, Elk Point, s. Dak. Application was 27, 1949, Serial No. 123,811

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tape machines and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine for stamping the date, locker number and type of meat or chicken cut on a tape whereby a packaged article may be quickly and readily identified.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a tape machine for stamping tape during the packaging of meat, chicken, cheese and the like, so that the package may be stored according to the type article and packaging date, thereby reducing to a minimum the time required for packaging and classifying meat, chicken and cheese cuts.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tape machine including a tape feeding mechanism, a tape cutting mechanism and a common means for actuating both the feeding mechanism and the cutting mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape identifier including a gang of indicia holding rollers that are rotated as a unit to bring a selected one of the rollers into a position for stamping or printing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape marking machine including a gang of rollers that ere mounted to rotate as a unit and which rollers are also independently rotatable, a holder for the gang of rollers, and a mechanism for lifting the gang of rollers away from the holders so that the weight of the rollers and the placement of the rollers will cause the same to revolve to bring one of the rollers into a fitaken substantially on the rjent invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which the gang of rollers are supported Within the housing and relative to the bearing roller;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and showing the gang of rollers raised and rotated, as a unit, relative to the bearing roller;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the common actuating means for the feed mechanism and the cutter mechanism;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the indicia holding rollers;

position for printing when the rollers are again "taken substantially on the plane of section line lowered.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tape machine including a printing roller having a plurality of longitudinally spaced indicia hearing strips thereon, a tape holder movable longitudinally of the roller, and a combined tape guide and indicator for indicating when the tape on the holder is in registry with a selected strip on the roller.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a tape machine that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, efiicient and durable in operation, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relativel inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference be- A pointer Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line ll-I l of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an'enlarged detail sectional view iZ-IZ of Figure 10 to illustrate the cutting mechanism;

Figure 13 is an elevational view of the roller for printing or marking a date and. a locker number;

Figure 14 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line M-I4 of Figure 13; and,

Figure 15 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line l5l5 of Figure 14.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It represents a housing having spaced upper and lower front wall sections it and I4. The upper front wall section it is hinged, as at IE, to the upper wall it of the housing to permit the section l2 to be raised for access into 'the spool 44 to the guide 54.

the interior of the housing. The lower front wall section I l includes an upwardly and rearwardly inclined panel 28 having three rows of indicia bearing plates 22, 24 and 26 for a purpose which will later be more fully described.

Tape holder A tape holder 28 is mounted within the housing If! for sliding movement and includes a base plate 3! and a pair of spaced walls 32 rising from the base plate 3% A pair of upper and lower vertically rotatable rollers or disks 34 and 36 are journaled on and between the walls 32 for rotation.

An ink holding and applyin roller 38 is also journaled for rotation on and between the walls 32, forwardly of the disks 34, 3B,. and this ink holding and applying roller 38 is disposed above and slightly to the rear of an auxiliary bearing roller 46 that is journaled for rotation on and between the walls 32.

A substantially LI-shaped bracket 4-2 is supported on the rear end of the base plate ea and holds a rotatable tape spool 44 about which there is wound a suitable tape ,8, preferably a tape having plain. face on one side and a glue on its other side. The tape 46' is trained between the disks 3%, extends through a tubular guide 68 mounted between the walls'32, and rests upon the auxiliary bearing roller 40 as shown best in Figure ii of the drawings.

A receptacle constitutes a part of the tape holder and is mounted on the forward end of the base plate and forwardly of the auxiliary bearing roller Ml. A vertically rotatable moisture applying roller or main bearing roller 52 is mounted for rotation in the receptacle 50 and receives the tape 46 from the auxiliary bearing roller it. A forwardly extending tubular guide it is supported on the receptacle 5!! and includes depending pointer 5% that is spaced above the panel 26 for registry with the plates 22, 24 and 26.

Means for moving the tape holder Means is provided for supporting and for moving the tape holder 28 within the housing It so that the pointer 55 will register with a selected plate of each of the rows of plates 22, 24, 25. This means comprises a pair of horizontally disposed, spaced parallel, feed screws or threaded rods 58 having one of their ends journaled on one wall of the housing and their remaining ends iournaled on a plate EEG spaced from the inner surface of the housing, as shown in Figure 4.

The plate 55 supports a, pinion 62 that engages gears es and 55 secured to the rods 58 so that the rods will rotate together and in the same direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise. A handle 58 is applied to one of the rods 58- and is disposed exteriorly of the housing whereby the rods '58 may be rotated manually.

Internally threaded ears I9 depend from the base plate 33 and receive the rods 58 so that as the rods '58 are rotated the tape holder 28 will travel or move within the housing Ill.

Tape feeding mechanism A mechanism is provided for feeding tape from This mechanism includes a wall '52 that is spaced from one of the walls A main drive gear 14 is journaled for rotation on the wall l2 and drives pinions l6 and Es also journals-d on the wall 12 for rotation. The pinion it engages a gear fixed on the supporting shaft for the disk 36 and the pinion 18 engages a gear 82 fixed on the supporting shaft d for the moisture applying roller 52, as shown best in Figure 9 of the drawings.

The main drive gear M is provided with a square central opening 84 through which is extended a square shaft 86 having its ends journalecl for rotation of the end walls of the housing I0. The shaft is spaced parallel to the rods 53 and one end of the shaft 85 supports a hand lever or handle 88 that is disposed exteriorly of the housing I0 and a projection 88 that is disposed Within the housing H3.

The supporting shafts for the disk 36 and the ink'holding and applying roller 38 support gears 90 and 92 about which there is trained a chain drive 94 so that as the disk 35 is rotated for feeding tape through the guides 48 and 54, the ink. holding and applying roller 38 will also be rotated (see Figure 2).

Tape cutting mechanism Means is provided for cutting the tape after a. predetermined amount thereof has been extended through the guide M. This cutting mechanism is shown best in Figure 12 and its location is shown in Figures 9 and 10. A pair of spaced parallel posts or bolts 96 extend upwardly from the base plate 38 and slidably and adjustably support a pair of spaced parallel blades Q8 and H30 having upper sharpened edges.

The'tape 46 is extended between the posts so that the posts will act as a guide means for retaining the tape on the auxiliary bearing roller 4i] and the main bearing roller 52.

The posts 95 also slidably support a vertically movable cutter member or blade I02 to which there is attached a depending bracket I84 having a laterally projecting arm I96, at its lower end that is disposed parallel to a rock shaft N15. The ends ofthe shaft I95 are iournaled for rotation in the plate 60 and a further plate IIll, respectively, the latter plate being mounted on one end wall of the housing It, as shown in Figure 4.

A pair of clamping arms or plates H! secured to and projecting'laterally from the shaft i538 receive the arm I06 therebetween so that as the shaft I08 is rotated, the bracket 64 and blade I02 will slide downward with the blade H32 passingbetween the blades 98 and Ifiii, to out the tape resting on the blades 98 and I 0!].

Common operating means for the feeding mechanism and the cutting mechanism Means is provided so that when the shaft 86 is rotated in one direction the tape will be fed from the spool M to the guides at, 54 and whereby a rotation of the shaft 85 in an opposite di rection will rotate the shaft its for actuating the cutter mechanism. The construction for accomplishing this desired result is shown best in Figure 7 of the drawings and consists of an operating member or contact member i I2 journaled on the shaft 85 and which receives and houses a ratchet H4 that is keyed on the shaft 86. A pawl H6 is carried by the member H2 and is urged by a spring H8 into engagement with the ratchet I M so that as the handle 33 and shaft 85.- are rotated clockwise as shown in Figure 7 the ratchet Il will pass by the pawl lIB so that member H2 and projection 89 will not move with the shaft 85 and tape will be fed to the guides 48 and 54. However, when the shaft 86 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Figure '7, the ratchet I M will lock with the pawl H6 and the projection 89 and member I I 2 will swing to the right.

The lower end of the member II2 supports a roller I2II that will ride against an arm I22 fixed to and projecting laterally from the shaft I I18 (see Figure 3)- as the member H2 is swung with the handle 88 and the shaft 86 to impart a rotation to the shaft I08.

rollers is composed of two equilateral plates I3Il.

the apices of which journally support the ends of printing or indicia holding rollers I32, I3d and I36 that extend the length of the rows of plates 22, 24 and 26.

Equilateral plates I33 are secured to and spaced from the outer faces of the plates I30 and are disposed with their apices spaced between adjacent apices of the plates I30 as shown in Figure 6.

A pair of holding plates or members I48 are secured to the end walls of the housing III and include substantially V-shaped seats I42 for receiving selected corners or apices of the plates to retain a selected one of the printing rollers against the main bearing roller 52 and the ink holding and applying roller 38.

Each of the rollers I32, I34 and I35 is provided with longitudinally and circuinferentially spaced indicia hearing or type holding strips Hid. The strips on the roller I32 relate to the cuts of certain type meat, the strips on the roller I34 relate to the cuts of another type of meat, and the strips on the roller I36 relate to the cuts of chickens, cheese or the like. The strips I44 are also correlated with the plates 22, 24, 26, for example, the strips on the roller I32 have words similar to the words on the plates 22, the strips on the roller I34 have words similar to the words on the plates 2 and the strips on the rollers I36 have words similar to the words on the plates 26 so that the user can tell what word is being printed on the tape by observing the pointer 56, and by adjusting the tape holder a selected word on a selected roller can be made on the tape.

Means for raising the gang of rollers Means is provided for lifting the gang of rollers and more particularly for raising the plates I38 out of the seats I 42. This means consists of a pair of vertically swingable hook members I 46 that are pivoted, as at I48, to the housing III.

A shaft I50 spaced parallel to the rollers I32, I34 and I36, and journaled on the housing It supports laterally projecting arms I 52 that are connected to the hook. members M6- by pitmans I54.

A suitable hand grip IE6 is secured to the shaft I56 so that the latter may be manually rotated whereupon the hook members M6 will engage lugs or pins I58 projecting centrally from the'plates I38 to effect a raising of the gang of rollers.

Attention is directed to Figures 5 and 6 to show the manner in which the gang of rollers is raised and revolved 90 during each raising thereof to bring a next roller into a position for printing.

It will be observed that when the gang of rollers is in place (Figure 5) the lower roller I36) contacts the roller 38 and bears against the tape on the roller I36. Also, the upper roller I34) is disposed on the same side of the pivot lugs I58 as 6 the lower roller. Through this arrangement, as the plates I38 are moved out of the seats It? by the hook members I 46, the gang of rollers will revolve, clockwise when viewing Figures 5 and 6, so that the roller I34 will be lowered and the rollers I32 and I36 will be raised.

Then as the gang of rollers is loweredone apex of each of the plates I33 will engage a corner of each of the seats I42 to effect a clockwise rotation of the gang of rollers as the plates I38 slide into their seats. This latest operation is necessary since the normal balance of the gang of rollers will maintain the lower of the rollers slightly lower than when the same is in its position for printing.

Date and locker number printing roller A printing roller is provided for printing a date and locker number on the tape. This roller is shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15 of the drawings and consists of a rod I60 on which there is fixed a spider I322. The arms of the spider I62 are secured to arcuate plates its that are spaced about the rod I60.

Flexible, preferably, rubber print bands I St are trained longitudinally about the plates led and the plates I54 are provided with flanges I 33 for1ning bearing surfaces for the print on the bands that will contact the tape. I

A date band I'IIl having suitable type thereon, is placed about a wheel I72 on the rod its.

The red I GII is supported by an arm I'I I and overlies the auxiliary bearing roller as shown in Figure 11 so that the tape will extend between the roller 40 and the date and locker number printing roller. The bands I66 and lit! also contact the ink holding and applying roller 38.

In practical use of the present invention, one of the printing rollers of the gang of rollers is first placed in position for printing, as aforementioned, with the plates I38 in the seats Hi2.

Then the handle 63 is rotated to move the tape holder to a selected position within the housing with the pointer 56 in registry with a selected one of the plates on the panel 20 thereby placing the tape so that one of the strips Hid will the tape.

Next the shaft 86 is rotated counterclockwise (see Figure 3) to cut the tape at a desired length.

Since the various working parts have been described in detail previously a more detailed description is felt unnecessary.

In View of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is;

1. A tape identifier for meats and the like comprising an elongated housing, a tape holder mounted in the housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing, a printing roller mounted in the housing and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing bands thereon, said holder including a pressure roller adapted to register with a selected one of said bands, means connected to the holder for moving the holder longitudinally in the housing to position the pressure roller adjacent a selected one of said bands in printing relation therewith, means associated with the holder for feeding tape from the holder between the printing roller and the pressure roller, tape cutting means mounted on the holder adjacent the pressure roller and the printing roller for cutting the tape after it ha passed between said rollers, and means carried by the housing and operatively connected to said tape cutting means for actuating the latter to cut the tape.

2. A tape identifier for meats and the like comprising an elongated housing, a tape holding carriage slidably mounted for longitudinal move ment within the housing, means connected to the carriage for adjusting the carriage longitudinally in the housing, a pressure roller supported on the carriage, a printing roller mounted in the housing longitudinally thereof and overlying the pressure roller, a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing bands on the printing roller for selectively registering with and pressing against tape extending over the pressure roller from the carriage for printing thereupon, said tape holding carriage being adjustable longitudinally in the housing to selected positions relative to the printing roller, means carried by the holder for feeding tape from the holder between the printing roller and the pressure roller, cutting mechanism supported on the carriage, and means mounted on the housing and operatively connected to said cutting mechanism for actuating the latter to cut the tape leaving the pressure roller.

3. The combination of claim 1 and a common operating means for said tape feeding means and said tape cutting means 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said common operating means includes a rotatable shaft operatively connected to said tape feeding means and said tape cutting means, said shaft being rotated in one direction for actuating said tape feeding means and in an opposite direction to actuate said tape cutting means.

5. A tape machine comprising an elongated housing, a tape holder mounted in said housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing, means for moving the holder longitudinally within said housing, a first pressure roller supported on said holder, a tape feeding mechanism for urging the tape from the holder to the pressure roller, a cutting mechanism supported on the carriage disposed between said tape feeding mechanism and said pressure roller for cutting tape leaving the feeding mechanism, a first indicia holding roller on the holder for stamping a date and locker number on tape leaving the feeding mechanism, a second pressure roller on the holder and coacting with the first indicia holding roller, a second indicia holding roller disposed longitudinally within the housing and cooperating with the first pressure roller for stamping the type article on tape leaving the feeding mechanism, and means for selectively moving the second indicia holding roller toward and away from the first pressure roller.

6. A tape machine comprising an elongated housing, a tape holder mounted in said housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing, means for moving the holder longitudinally Within said housing, a first pressure roller sup ported on said holder, a tape feeding mechanism for urging the tape from the holder to the pressure roller, a cutting mechanism supported on the holder and disposed between said tape feeding mechanism and said pressure roller for cutting tapeleaving the feeding mechanism, a first indicia holding roller on the holder for stamping a date and locker number on tape'leaving the feeding mechanism, a second pressure roller on the holder coacting with the first indicia holdin roller, a gang of indicia holding rollers extending longitudinally of the housing, each of said rollers of said gang of rollers having a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing bands thereon for selectively engaging tape over the first pressure roller, means carried by said housing supporting said gang of rollers with a selected one of the rollers against a tape over the first pressure roller, and means for moving the gang of rollers away from the first pressure roller.

'7. A tape identifier for meat cuts and the like comprising an elongated housing, a tape holding carriage mounted in said housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing and including a tape guide and a pointer on the guide, means connected to the carriage for adjusting the carriage longitudinally of the housing, longitudinally spaced indicia bearing plates mounted on the housing for selectively registering with the pointer as the carriage is adjusted longitudinally of the housing, a printing roller supported on the carriage for marking tape prior to the passing of the tape into the guide, a pressure roller on the carriage underlying the printing roller, a gang of spaced parallel rollers mounted longitudinally of and within said housing for selectively stamping tape after the tape has been stamped by the printing roller, a second pressure roller carried by said carriage and coacting with said gang of rollers, and means for actuating a selected roller of said gang to a printing position, said plates being arranged in vertically spaced horizontal rows, there being one row of plates for each roller of said gang, and each of said rollers of said gang having a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing band correlated with and opposing its row of plates.

8. A tape identifier for meat cuts and the like comprising an elongated housing, a tape holding carriage mounted in said housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing and including a tape guide and a pointer on the guide, means connected to the carriage for adjusting the carriage longitudinally of the housing, longitudinally spaced indicia bearing plates mounted on the housing for selectively registering with the pointer, a pressure roller on said carriage, a first printing roller carried by the carriage and overlying the pressure roller, said pressure roller and said printing roller adapted to receive tape therebetween, a gang of spaced parallel rollers mounted in and disposed longitudinally of the housing, a main pressure roller supported on the carriage and coacting with a selected one of said gang of rollers, and means connected to said gang of rollers for positioning a selected one of said gang of rollers above and close to the main pressure roller, said rollers of said gang each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing stamps, said plates being arranged in vertically spaced horizontal rows, there being one row of plates for each roller of said gan to indicate the print-- ing matter on said stamps.

9. A tape identifier for meat cuts and the like comprising an elongated housing, a tape holder mounted in the housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing, a printing rolier mounted in the housing and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing bands thereon,

said holder including a pressure roller adapted to underlie a selected one of said bands, means connected to the holder for moving the holder to position the pressure roller under a selected one of said bands, means associated with the holder for feeding tape from the holder between the two rollers, first and second spaced parallel shafts journaled in said housing for rotation, cutting means for tape leaving the holder, a connector between said cutting means and said second shaft for actuating said cutting means during rotation of said second shaft, and means carried by said first shaft for imparting rotation to said second shaft during rotation of said first shaft in one direction.

10. A tape identifier for meat cuts and the like comprising an elongated housing, a tape holder mounted in the housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing, a printing roller mounted in and disposed longitudinally of the housing and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing bands thereon, said holder including a pressure roller adapted to underlie a selected one of said bands, means connected to the holder for moving the holder to position the pressure roller under a selected one of said bands, means associated with the holder for feeding tape from the holder between the two rollers, an indicia holding roller movable with the tape holder for stamping a date and locker number on tape leaving the feeding means, and a second pressure ,roller carried by the holder and underlying said indicia holding roller.

' 11. A tape identifier for meat cuts and the like comprising an elongated housing, a tape holder mounted in the housing for sliding movement longitudinally of the housing, a printing roller mounted in and disposed longitudinally of the housing and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced printing bands thereon, said holder including a pressure roller adapted to underlie a selected one of said bands, means connected to the holder for moving the holder to position the pressure roller under a selected one of said bands, means associated with the holder for feeding tape from the holder between the two rollers, a cutting mechanism disposed between said feeding means and said printing roller for cutting tape leaving the feeding means, an indicia holding roller movable with the holder for stamping a date and locker number on tape leaving the feeding means, and a second pressure roller carried by the holder and underlying said indicia holding roller.

EARL A. JACOBSON.

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